Psychological Antecedents and Consequences of Maximal Fitness Testing Among Firefighters

Abstract

Little is known about psychological correlates of maximal aerobic and strength performance or psychological responses to maximal fitness testing among firefighters, a high-stress occupational group frequently exposed to psychological and physical stressors. PURPOSE:To examine the psychological correlates of and acute responses to maximal fitness testing among firefighters. METHODS: Twenty-seven male firefighters, aged 31-53 years (42.3±6.8), currently working in Ireland completed measures of positive and negative affect (PANAS), mood (POMS), and state anxiety (STAI-Y1) before and 10-min after maximal fitness testing, including an isometric mid-thigh pull test followed by a maximal treadmill test. Multiple regression adjusted for age quantified associations between psychological variables and maximal aerobic capacity and full body force. Paired t-tests and standardized mean differences (SMD) quantified change in psychological outcomes in response to maximal aerobic and strength tests. RESULTS: Mean VO2max was 42.6±7.3 mL · min-1 · kg-1. Mean full body force was 2782.3±507.6 N. A significant inverse association was found between age and VO2max (r=-0.42, p≤0.03). No outcomes were significantly associated with VO2max (β: -0.14 to 0.25; all p>0.17) or maximal full body force (β: -0.24 to 0.35; all p>0.07). Though statistically nonsignificant, the direction of correlations with both VO2max and maximal strength was consistent (i.e., positive or negative for both) for positive affect, feelings of energy, and state anxiety. Feelings of tension (p≤0.01) and anger (p≤0.04) were significantly improved, and feelings of confusion (p≤0.07) and energy (p≤0.09) were nominally improved. Exercise effects ranged from small-to-moderate for positive (SMD=0.15) and negative affect (SMD=0.27), feelings of depression (SMD=0.25), energy (SMD=0.31), confusion (SMD=0.36), anger (SMD=0.43), and tension (SMD=0.55), total mood disturbance (SMD=0.24), and state anxiety (SMD=0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Mood, affect, and state anxiety did not significantly predict maximal aerobic capacity or strength among firefighters. Differential associations with aerobic capacity and strength were suggested. Acute maximal aerobic and strength testing resulted in small-to-moderate improvements in psychological outcomes.